It's not the kind of public statement you can just disavow and all is well! It's extremely damning that he ever held it and damning of his judgement that he thought expressing it was a good idea. I'm glad he has backpedaled but it doesn't rehabilitate him all the way back to zero.
not convinced that he didn't backpeddle just to escape further criticism. it's alarming that he held that opinion in the first place. it makes you wonder what opinions he holds in private.